Classes for military families

Military family classThe Snohomish County Red Cross offers a “psychological first aid” class to help military families cope with deployments.The class starts Jan. 8 in the Red Cross Everett office, 2530 Lombard Ave. The course is about 5½ hours long and can be divided into parts for adults and children. The children’s part teaches adults how to help kids through a deployment in the family.“Loved ones often face their own challenges when a family member deploys and we don’t want to overlook their needs,” said Beverly Walker, Service to Armed Forces director.The course, taught by licensed mental health professionals. is for spouses, children, parents, siblings and significant others of service members and veterans. Participants learn to provide emotional support to people in distress. A portion of the class also talks about identifying helpful community resources.The course is free to military members and their families. It’s taught confidentially.For more information, call 425-304-4476.Flags at half-staff: Gov. Chris Gregoire says that flags may be lowered to half-staff today in memory of U. S. Army Cpl. Sean M. Collins, 25, of Yelm. Collins died from wounds received when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business today, or first thing Wednesday morning.

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